Automatic fire-alarm system



(No Model.)v 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

G. F. BULEN.

AUTOMATIC TIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

Patenged Feb. 18, 1890."

3mm v. 2f. @iii @vim/uma@ N. PETERS. mumgnpnsr. wmmglm nc.

No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

1 G. F. BLEN.

AUTMATIG FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

No. 421,853. Patented-Feb. 18, 1890.

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GEORGE F. BULEN, OF TOMPKINSVILLE, NElV YORK.

AUTOMATIC Fl RE-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,853, dated February 18, 1890.

Application tiled June 18, 1889. -Slerial No. 314,688. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. BULEN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Tompkinsville, in the county of Richmond and Stat-e of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire- Alarm Systems, ot which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a system of protection by means of electric circuits and suitable connecting apparatus which shall be provided with every practicable means to make it reliable in operation, and which shall indicate at the central otlice not only the existence but the exact location Figure 1 is a plan or`diagra1nmatic view of the circuits and the parts of the instruments therein connected. Figs. 2. and 3 are respectively plan and side views of the transmitter.

The main line L in Fig. l extends from the central station A, where the main battery B v is located, to the building C, the outlines of which are represented in dotted lines, and` passes through the several stories of the building marked 1, 2, and 3.

as -may be desired, are arranged as shown in l the three stories of the building illustrated in the drawings.

At one part of the circuit in the building, wherever convenient, (in this case from the second, story,) the main line L is carried tol the transmitter at D; also at another point (preferably from the lowest story) the main line is connected with another part of uthe transmitter, as at d. The main circuit is normally open, and it may be traced from the earth at E at the central station throughout the line L and the several stories of the The main line is preferably double throughout the circuit,.

' building, terminating in the two strips D and D2 at one part of the transmitter and at the contact-points at CZ at another part. The strips D and D2 rest upon the insulated piece H, thus leaving the circuit open at that point, as stated. The main circuit, however, has three paths to* the earth through the trans-- mitter represented at E', E2, and E2.

Throughout the building and kby the side of the main circuit in each story extends the local circuit Z, Z, dtc., and this local circuit from each story passes through that portion of the transmitter marked F in such a way as to make ot theY local wire in allthe stories a single circuit, which includes the batteryO and the magnet NV. This single local circuit is made up `of the several circuits which extend through the different stories of "the building by means ot the strips F F2 to FS,

and the plates G G2 G3 G4, upon which the strips F dac., rest. Th'us the local circuit throughout the building may be traced from the battery O through strip F, the plate G', the strip F2, the upper story of the building to the strip F3, the plate G2, the strip F4, the second story of the building, the strip F5, the plate G2, the strip F6, the lower story of the building, the strip F7, the plate G4, the strip F8, the magnet W back to the battery. This local circuit is therefore a closed circuit, and by this means the armature w is held toward the magnet W and against the stop w. The main and local circuits thus described are connected at as many points as desired throughout the several stories of the building by thermostats or other thermaldevices t, and except through these devices there is no electrical contact between the circuits. As illustrated in the drawings, the circuits and apparatus are in their normal positions and ready to indicate the occurrence of a lire or The portion'of the instru-- srs Ico

the various parts of the local circuit which extends throughout the building, as described. The magnet Y and its armature y control the movement of the cylinder M. The spring S holds the armature 'y away from the poles of the magnet Y, and the spring S, which is connected to the shaft ofthe cylinder M, tends to turn the latter toward the right. This is prevented by means of the lever Y', which rests upon the top of the armature-lever y.

Let us suppose now that a lire has taken place in any part of the building, and that by means of any one of the thermal devices t a connection is made between the main wire L and the local circuit Z. The result is that the powerful battery at B at the central station is thrown from the main circuit onto the local circuit through the connection made by the thermostat, and the main circuit will then 'find its way to the earth through the said local circuit, passing through the magnet W, the wire 4, the magnet Z, the wire 5, the magnet Y to the earth at F?. In its path it meets thc two batteries O and O', but as these are very small they tend in no way to effect the strong current from the battery The iirst effect ot the main current thus passing over the route described is that the armature of the magnet Z is attracted and a local circuit is established over the wires G and 7, which includes the batt-ery O2 and the magnet X. The effect of this, if continued, would simply be to cause the bell at A to be rung through the operation of the rheotome R, connected with the magnet X, by alternately bringing the main circuit to ground at E3 through the point d.; but the same current also energizes the magnet Y, which causes it to attract its armature strongly. The arm Y is thus released, the spring S immediately turns the cylinder M a distance suflicient to remove the plates G G2, the., from under the ends of the springs F F2, tbc., and the effect of this israt once to isolate the various local circuits extending through the diiterent stories of the building. This isolation remains as regards all the stories except the one in which the connection between the two circuits has been made as described; but the ,circuit in the story of the building in which the iire has occurred, being in the main circuit, is at once connected with the earth at F. through the device D, for, as indicated in the diagram, the two strips F, which form the terminals of the local circuit in each story, are connected with the springs or strips D3 D'L D5. This connection is made as soon as the cylinder M has been turned and the plates G', &c.,have been removed from under the ends ol' the strips F. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that these strips F are bent upward while resting upon the plates G; but if the latter are removed the strips F will fall and strike upon the contact-points f, which contact-points are connected, respectively, with the strips D3, D, and D5. It will be seen therefore that as soon as the cylin der M has been moved, as described, so that the strips F fall from the plates G, then the several stories are connected separately, each with its strip D3, D", or D5. But as the iire is supposed to have taken place in one story only, then lthe local circuits in the other stories of the building are left open, while the local circuit in the story in which the lire has occurred, being connected with the main line and its battery, will go through the dcvice D through its strip D3, D, or D5. Again, it will be seen that as soon as the cylinder M is turned, as described, the catch or lever 7c, which prevent-s the train K from operating, is released, and by means of the train the cylinder D commences to turn aud continues as long as the train is provided with power by its spring. The cylinder D is turned in the direct-ion of the arrow, as shown in Fig. l. The cylinder D consists of the shaft .s and the disks H, l-l, Il?, H3, and IF. The disk ll has connected with it the part 7l.. The disk H and 7L is insulated from the shaft s. The other disks l-I, H2, H3, and HA1 are electrically connected with the shaft s.

The operation of this part of the transmitter is as follows: It will be observed that from the earth E the wire S extends to the two strips D* and DT, D being connected with the shaft s and D7 resting over the part 7L of the disk H. As soon as the cylinder D begins to turn in the direction of the arrow, as shown, the first eitectis to put the disk Il in connection with the ground by means of the strip DT and the projection h extending over the part of the periphery of 71.. As the main line is connected with ll by means of the two strips D and D2, it is evident that the mainline is thus sent to ground at E through the wire S. It will be noticed that parts of the disk, Il, just ready to go in contact with the strips D and D2, are cut away. In this instance there are four such places cut from the edge of the disk. The result will be that as the cylinder D is turned and the pc riphery of H passes under the strips D and D2 the circuit will be closed and opened .l'our times by means of the spaces cut from the periphery of H, after which the strip DT will pass out of contact with 7L by passing over the end of the raised portion of its periphery. This action will. cause the bell at the main station A to be struck four times, and this is intended to indicate the number of the building in which the lire has occurred. As the cylinder D continues to turn in the direction oi' the arrow, as shown in Fig. 1, the several disks l-l H2 H3 are brought under the strips D3, D", and The disk Il. has one projection upon its periphery, Il2 has two projections, and H3 has three proj ections, New, as the main circuit is completed through the local circuitof one of the floors, it will be completed through the disk which is brought into contact with the strip D", Dl, or D5 con nected with that floor, and the result is that the bell at A will be struck once, twice, or

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thrice, according as the local circuit in the first, second, or third story of the building has been connected with the main circuit by the action of the thermostat, as described. This operation will be repeated as long as the cylinder D continues to turn, the bell striking first the number of the building, as indicated by the breaks in the periphery of H, and then the number of the floor on which the fire has occurred, depending upon which strip D3, D4, or D5 is thus put into the main circuit.

To be more particular, let it be supposed that a fire has taken place at the point 15 in the first story of the building, and by means of the thermostat at that point the main line L has been connected with the local circuit Z, the result will be that the main battery B,

-crossing from the main line L to thevlocal line Z at the point l5, will pass for an instant over the entire local circuit, through the strips F, the plates G, the magnets W, Z, and Y to the earth at E2. The magnets Z and Y will be energized as described, the cylinder M will be turned to the right, so that the strips F and the plates Gr are separated. circuit in the first story will thus be isolated from the local circuit in the other stories, and the connection will be made from t-he point 15 through the wire Z in the first story to the contact-point under the strips Fl and F7, which are in the circuit of that story, through the wire 9 to the strip D3. The cylinder D being started, as has been described, the bell at A will first be caused to strike four times by the operation of the disk H, and then as the disk H carries its projection under the strip D8 it causes the bell to strike once belong as the cylinder D is caused. to turn by means of the train K. It is intended that these signals shall be-repeated, say tive or six times, so that the attention ot' the proper otcer in the main ofiice at A shall not fail to be attracted.

It sometimes happens that it is desired to call the attention ofthe main office to a building before any of the thermostats have acted,l

and for this purpose a device for sending an alarm manually is shown'at P in Figs; l and 2. It consists of the handle and rod P, working back and forth stiftly in guides, as shown, and in the case of Fig. 1 sets the transmitter in operation by means of the wedge-shaped pieces on the end of the rod P and the armature, as shown at y2.V .Vhen the rod P is pulled outward, it will be seen that the armaturey is pressed against the poles of the magnet the same as though the latter were energized, and the same result will follow-mamely,

thecylinder M is' caused -to revolve andthe cylinder D is also released. In this case,how ever, as there has been no connection made between the local and main circuits, the re- The local circuits of the stories of the building; but

when the knob P is pulled the circuit-closing points at p are brought together, and this gives the main battery a circuit through the line 10, circuit-closing points p, the strip D8, and the disk H4. This latter disk is provided with several pairs of projections, so that when it passes under the strip DS the main circuit is closed twice several times at intervals, thus giving two strokes several times upon the gong A in the central station. It will be seen, however, that as the cylinder D is set in operation in the same way as has been before described, a signal will be sent by means of the disk H, whereby the number of the building will be given, and then instead of the number of the'tloor several pairs of strokes will be given, thus indicating that a manual signal has been sent in from the building,

either without a iire or because it has been discovered before any of the'thermostats have been operated. f

n examination of the box will disclose that a manualsignal has -been sent, as the ing points at p and pushes the armature y toward the poles of the magnet Y in the same way as has been described with reference t0 Fig. l, and producing the same result.

Should the local circuit in the building at anywhere be broken, the result will be that the circuit which includes the battery() and the magnet lV, and which extends throughout the building, will be opened. The result of this will be that the armature w will be drawn away from the poles of the magnet by its spring, and the circuit of the battery O2 will be closed through the wire 1l and the rheotome connected with the magnet X. 'This will give the y main circuita ground through the point d, and will cause a continuous ringing of the bell at A, thus indicating that the local circuit in the building is broken and requires attention. 1

Should a ground be established at any point of the local circuit, then a circuit will be made through battery O, magnet W, wire 4, magnet Z, wire 5, magnet Y, and battery O to earth at E2, the two batteries O and O operating together. These will operate magnet Z, but not magnet Y, because the latter is adjusted only to be operated by the main battery; but the rheotome-circuit through wires 6 and 7, magnet X, and battery O2 is completed, and the bell A in the central office is rung, because thev main circuit is intermittently grounded at d and Y At the central station A, at the point A', a device is shown which is of importance in in- IOO IZO

dicating the condition of the circuit. In the loop forming the main conductor is placed the battery B and the magnet B2.' YAs the loop forms a complete circuit in itself, thc magnet B2 is kept energized and its armature is held to its poles. Should the wire be broken, the armature falls away, and thus gives notice of the break. Again, should the line be grounded between the central station and the building C, the magnet A is energized, but no continuous alarm is given; but in such a case, it a fire occurs, the results of the operation of the transmitter are given upon the magnet B2, because the loop-circuit is opened at the disk Il when the strips D and D2 meet the breaks in its periphery. Again, when the circuits and apparatus are all in normal condition and an alarm is given, as has been described, the main magnet A and the loop-magnet B2 operate together, thus indicating that the line is intact. for the reliable transmission ot the signals, and every accident to disarrange the system is provided for, and the cause can be found and remedied.

l claim as my invention-A l. In a iire-alarrn system, the combination of a main line from the central station to the building or area under protection, a local circuit comprising a given number of normallyconnected sections and in proximity to said main line within said building or area, thermostats in connection with said main and local lines, an automatic circuit-controlling device, through which the sections of the local line are connected in series, and an electro-magnet in a circuit adapted to be cornpleted by the closing of a connection between said main and local lines by one of the thermostats, and adapted when energized to set in operation the said circuit-controlling device, whereby the several sections of the local line are isolated from each other, as set forth.

2. In a fire-alarm system, the combination of a main line from the central station in the building or area under protection, a local circuit comprising a given number of normallyconnected sections and in proximityto said main line within said building or area, thermostats in connection with the main and local lines, an automatic circuit-controlling device, through which the sections of the local line are normally connected in series, a starting electro-magnet therefor adapted to be energized by the closing of a connection between the main and local lines, whereby the several sections of the local line will be isolated from each other, a transmitter or signaling mechanism in said building, and electrical connections from each section of the local line to the same, as set forth.

8. ln a fire-alarm system, the combination of a main line from the central station to the structure to be protected, a local line within said structure in proximity to the main line and composed of a given number of sections or divisions connected up in closed circuit, an earth-connection from said local circuit, an automatic signaling device connected with the main and local circuits, an electro-mag- Thus every provision is made circuit controlled by said magnet, a vibratorl connected therewith and adapted to intermittently close the circuit of the main line, an earth-connection from the closed local circuit, and thermostatic circuit-closers between the main line and the wires of the closed local circuit, as set forth.

5. A nre alarm-system comprising the circuits and apparatus combined and arranged as follows, to wit: a main line from the central station containing a gong or alarm indicator and extending to and throughout the structure to be protected, a closedlocal circuit in the building the wires of which are run in proximity to the main line and connected therewith through thermostatic circuit-controllers, a connection from the said closed circuit to earth, a circuit-controller containing a given number of plates through which separate sections of the local circuit IOO are connected, an electro-magnet for operatp ing or starting the same and included in a circuit from the main line through the said earth-connection, whereby on the energizing of the magnet the said sections will be isolated from each other, an automatic signaling device or transmitter adapted to be started in operation by or immediately subsequent to the action ot' the wcircuit controller, and circuit-connections whereby given signals are transmitted first from the main line to ground and then from the main line to ground through that section of the local line with which the main may be electrically connected through a thermostat, as set forth.

6. The combination oi' the main line extending from the central station to and throughout the structure to be protected, a local circuit composed of sections run in proximity to the main line, a circuit-changer with two sets of contact-plates, one set adapted to connect the ends of the several sections in a closed circuit, the other to connect each section independently with a signaling -instrument, an earth-connection from the local circuit, an electro-magnet therein for controlling or operating the circuit changer, and thermostatic circuit-closers connected to the main and local lines, respectively, as set forth.

7. The combination of the main line extending from the central station to and throughout the structure to be protected, a -local circuit composed ot' sections run in proximity IOS IlO

to the main line, a signaling device or transmitter, a circuit-changer with two sets of plates, one set adapted to connect the ends of the several sections in closed circuit, the

other to connect" each section -with a corre'- sponding signal-disk, an earth connection from the local circuit, and thermostatic circuit-@losers connected to the main and local lines, respectively, these devices being arranged in substantially the manner described, the action or operation of the signaling device being controlled'by or dependent upon that of the circuit-changer, which in turn is operated by a current passing from the main line th rough the earth connection, as set forth.

S. The combination, with the main line L,

the local circuit Z, composed of sections one in each room or part ofthe structure to be protected, the thermostats t, the series of plates connecting together the sections of circuitZ, the earth-connection from circuit Z, the magnet Z, included therein, the norm ally-open local circuit containing battery O2, and Vibrator-magnet X, adapted to intermittently ground the mainline, whereby the passage of a current from the main line through the local line and its earthconnection and the energizing of magnet Z the circuit of battery O2 is closed, as set forth.

l0. The combination, with the main line L, the local circuit Z, composed of sections one in each room or part of the structure to be protected, the thermostats z5, the circuit-controller, having a series of contact-plates by Which ythe sections of the local circuit are connected in a closed circuit, an earth-connection from the local circuit, and an electromagnet Y therein for operating the circuitcontroller when the main line is grounded through one of the thermostats, as set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of June, A. D. 1889.

GEO. F. BULEN.`

' Witnesses;

DANL,` W. EDGEcoMB, CAROLINE E. DAVIDSON. 

